The Bassetto in History

Bassetto, bassett, bassettl and in German also Halbbass – half bass – were historic names for double basses which were, as a rule, smaller than usual, and mostly tuned higher. But what are rules? – we are talking about double basses here, where the motto is As you like it! And accordingly, these instruments, like double basses, existed in every imaginable shape and size. All the same, here follows a rough categorisation.